Atlanta Falcons (5-6) – Chicago Bears (3-8): 27-24
Duel of surprising teams this Sunday between the Falcons and the Bears. On the one hand, a Chicago team that has finally unlocked the potential of Justin Fields. On the other, well-coached Falcons, sometimes confusing, sometimes disappointing.
In a hotly contested match, it was finally the Falcons who came out on top, thanks to a field goal from the impeccable Younghoe Koo (5/5 on kicks) one minute from the end.
Justin Fields – Marcus Mariota, white beanie and white beanie
Throughout the match, the two pitchers on the field deliver rather similar performances: a sluggish passing game, and a running game to advance the chains. If Justin Fields (14/21, 153 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception, 18 runs, 85 yards, 1 touchdown on the ground) is more active on the ground, with in particular his tenth touchdown in the last ten quarters, Marcus Mariota ( 13/20, 131 yards, 1 TD, 13 races, 25 yards, 1 TD) and his own deliver ultimately a fairly similar copy.
The match could have fallen on one side or the other: 20 first attempts for the Bears, 18 for the Falcons. 288 yards for the Bears, 280 for the Falcons.
A touchdown scoring machine. @JustnFields’10th TD in his last 10 quarters!
📺: #CHIvsATL on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/IaVHvq433O pic.twitter.com/rh5vwx7diN— NFL (@NFL) November 20, 2022
Cordarelle Patterson record
If the Falcons get away with the victory in this game, they can thank veteran Cordarelle Patterson, in all the good moves this Sunday: 10 carries for 52 yards and 2 receptions for 7 yards. Above all, while the Bears have just put a small hammer blow on the head of the Falcons with a touchdown leading the score at 17-7, Patterson receives the kick-off far in his end zone. 103 yards later and with swaying hooks, he joined the opposing end-zone for the 9th kick-off return for a career touchdown, a new NFL record.
A NEW NFL RECORD FOR @ceeflashpee84
📺 FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/8nPaEJPFoz
—Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 20, 2022
If the frantic pace of the first period (17-17 at half-time) calms down in the second period, it is in particular thanks to two defenses which have adjusted well. Casually it is, for the two teams predicted at the bottom of the classification, a positive lesson.
With this victory, the Falcons (5-6) come back almost up to the Buccaneers (5-5), and can always dream of unexpected playoffs.
